Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Beacon (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Beacon. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Beacon is located in Butler County.
To see how the shape of Alabama's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Butler County: Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Lowndes, Monroe & Wilcox.
Below are the counties that are near Beacon. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Beacon:
- Butler County (The home county of Beacon)
- The following are listed by their distance from Beacon, with the one closest to Beacon listed first.
- Starlington
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Starlington is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starlington
- Shacklesville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Shacklesville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shacklesville
- Bolling
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bolling is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolling
- Chapman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Chapman is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Georgiana
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Forest Home
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Garland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Garland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- McKenzie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Greenville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Industry
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Industry is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
- Oaky Streak
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Oaky Streak is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaky Streak
- Conecuh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Beacon, with the one closest to Beacon listed first.
- Mixonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mixonville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixonville
- Commerce
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Commerce is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Wilcox
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Wilcox is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilcox
- Owassa
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Owassa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owassa
- Old Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Old Town is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Rabb
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Rabb is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabb
- Ramah
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Ramah is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramah
- Evergreen
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Centerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Centerville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Mount Union
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Mount Union is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Union
- Jay Villa ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Jay Villa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay Villa
- Belleville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Belleville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
- Covington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Beacon, with the one closest to Beacon listed first.
- Red Level
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Red Level is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Population from the 2020 Census: 474 people
- Gantt
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gantt is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
- River Falls
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- River Falls is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 528 people
- Crenshaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Beacon, with the one closest to Beacon listed first.
- Honoraville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Honoraville is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honoraville
- Merrill Mill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Merrill Mill is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrill Mill
- Leon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Leon is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
- Cherokee Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cherokee Village is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Village
- Rutledge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Rutledge is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutledge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 449 people
- Dozier
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Beacon, with the one closest to Beacon listed first.
- Minter
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Minter is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
- Carlowville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Carlowville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
- Richmond
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Richmond is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Beacon, with the one closest to Beacon listed first.
- Bragg's
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Bragg's is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg's
- Fort Deposit
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Gordonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Gordonville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
- Sandy Ridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sandy Ridge is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Beacon, with the one closest to Beacon listed first.
- Pine Orchard
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Pine Orchard is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
- Pineville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Burnt Corn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Burnt Corn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Corn
- Beatrice
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Natchez
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Tunnel Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Tunnel Springs is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnel Springs
- Former name for Tunnel Springs:
- Kempsville
- Peterman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Peterman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterman
- Vredenburgh
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Vredenburgh is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vredenburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Beacon, with the one closest to Beacon listed first.
- Awin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- Pine Apple
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Apple is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Apple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Schuster
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Schuster is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schuster
- McWilliams
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- McWilliams is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
- Caledonia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Caledonia is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Oak Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Furman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Furman is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furman
- McBrydes
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- McBrydes is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBrydes
- Snow Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Snow Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Ackerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ackerville is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackerville
- Estelle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Estelle is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Beacon, see our County-by-County Page for Beacon.
Cemeteries Near Beacon ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Beacon.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Beacon - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Beacon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Beacon, with the one closest to Beacon listed first.
- Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Stamps Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Old Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Antioch West Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Shacklesville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Salem Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel West Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Butler Springs Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Miller Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Olive West Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Maye Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (223 more) ...
- Friendship Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Middleton Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<2>
While we didn't find Beacon in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Beacon.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Beacon, with the one closest to Beacon listed first.
- Starlington
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Starlington is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starlington
- Shacklesville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Shacklesville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shacklesville
- Butler Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Butler Springs is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler Springs
- Bolling
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bolling is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolling
- Georgiana
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Chapman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Chapman is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Commerce
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Commerce is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Herbert
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Herbert is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
- Garland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Garland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Forest Home
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Awin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- Harmony
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Harmony is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Shell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Shell is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shell
- Manningham
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Manningham is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manningham
- Bowles
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bowles is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowles
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Beacon. See our List of 1890's Communities around Beacon.
Newspapers Published in Beacon ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Beacon.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Beacon, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Beacon.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Beacon:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Butler County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Conecuh County
- Covington County
- Crenshaw County
- Dallas County
- Lowndes County
- Monroe County
- Wilcox County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Beacon, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Beacon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |